The history of this remarkable clock tower dates back to the 14th century, when one of Europe’s most extraordinary astronomical clocks was installed above Piazza dei Signori. Its dial, based on an ancient vision of the cosmos, set the rhythm of the city for centuries, combining the everyday measurement of time with the observation of the heavens.

Gilded zodiac signs, the phases of the Moon, the course of the Sun and the Roman-numeral hour ring form a composition in which science meets the artistry of medieval masters.